River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1887-06-02
statement was in the War Department
of Richmond.


Finding that | would be constantly
detailed upon these trips / called upon
the Confederate Secretary of War and
advised establishing a reliable line of
communication between Richmond and
Washington. He indorsed the PROPOSE
ton and requested me TO establish il at
once. A signal station, under the
charge of lieutenant, had been in sue
cessful operation upon the Potomac for
some time and had proven very useful.
But the War Department needed a
direct line of its own, subject TO its
order and reliable at all times. To
establish this / rode from the front
door of the War Department of Rich
mond to the Potomac river, crossed the
river and rode To the front door of the
War Department of Washington and
established the line throughout Having
selected a high cliff near Boyd's Hole
on the Potomac as the site for my
shanty and men | wrote to the Secretary
Of War for an outfit. In reply ! re-
ceived the following autograph letter
from him:
WAR DEPARTMENT, DECEMBER 70, 1862
THOMAS n. CONRAD.
Sir. The officers instructed by the Score
tary of the Navy to take up the boat and
other articles required 10y you has just re
ported himself as ready 10 proceed to
Milford. Ihave directed himto coup the day
after tomorrow, which viii be next Thurs
day, as that, presume, will be the earliest
day at which you can receive notice and
have the wagon, etc to receive him and his
MaEsa OIL NOT IN nn.lV
point or delay him. as his presence here is
important. Wishing you all success in
yovr operations am, truly yours
JAMES A. SEDDEN, Secretary of War.
Upon receiving boat and equipment
selected two 'Irishmen who were eX-
pert oarsmen and a courier and had
them detailed for the post. The negro
man. who had been with my regiment
since 81 and had been the body servant
of the lieutenant colonel and after his
death served me, made the five who
composed the detail. So with four
men, three horses, "A good boat. fine
fine field glass, a pocket compass and
quarters upon high cliff of the
Potomac. l was ready for operations.
/ crossed the river and selected three
practicing physicians, who could ride
at any hour of the night without being
suspected or arrested by Federal troops
being known rs neighborhood doctors,
and who were heart am soul in sym
patty with us. Whenever | was in
Washington and wished to send dis
patch to Richmond | called upon the
physician living near the Nav Yard and
gave him the dispatch. He would ride
over the Navy Yard bridge, witch was
always under guard, in his doctors
buggy and gave the dispatch TO ply
sician.No ?.
He would mount his horse and ride to
the house of physician No. 5 and deliv-
er it, and he would ride to a certain point
on the river and place the dispatch un-
der a ledge of rocks. That night the
boat would come over from my camp.
get the dispatch, take To the camp,
give it to the courier, who would at once
ride to the telegraph office and have it
to Richmond. Thusin less
than twelve hours | could send dis
patch from Washington city to Rich
mOnd. This existed until Lee surren-
dered at AppOnrattoX, and rendered in
valuable service to the Confederacy.
Whenever found the Potomac closely
picketed or patroled would take my
negro man over the river with me and
send him inland to ascertain and repor
where the federal squad was and tn
several picket posts. As he was a ere
II n
trusted him. and |. relying upon his re-
port, would follow hisin, tructions, glide
the picket line and begin my
march for Washington.